Original Articles
Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 21, 2009; 15(35): 4410-4414
Published online Sep 21, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.4410
Influence of paeonol on expression of COX-2 and p27 in HT-29 cells
Jun-Mei Ye, Tao Deng, Jian-Bao Zhang
Jun-Mei Ye, Tao Deng, Jian-Bao Zhang, Gastroenterology Department, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei Province, China
Author contributions: Ye JM performed the majority of experiments and wrote the manuscript, Zhang JB cultured the HT-29 cell line; Deng T designed the study, participated in writing and editing the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Tao Deng, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Gastroenterology Department, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei Province, China. taodeng790601@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-27-88041911-2135
Received: June 3, 2009
Revised: July 28, 2009
Accepted: August 4, 2009
Published online: September 21, 2009
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effect of paeonol on controlling the proliferation of colorectal cancer cell line HT-29 and to discuss its possible mechanism.

METHODS: The inhibitory effect of paeonol on proliferation of HT-29 cells was detected by MTT assay. The results of apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. Immunocytochemical staining was performed to detect the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and protein p27 in HT-29 cells treated with paeonol at different concentrations. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for mRNA analysis.

RESULTS: From the data of both MTT and flow cytometry, we observed that cell proliferation was inhibited by different concentrations of paeonol. By immunocytochemical staining, we found that HT-29 cells treated with paeonol (0.024-1.504 mmol/L) reflected reduced expression of COX-2 and increased expression of p27 in a dose-dependent manner. RT-PCR showed that paeonol down-regulated COX-2 and up-regulated p27 in a dose- and time-dependent manner in HT-29 cells.

CONCLUSION: One of the apoptotic mechanisms of paeonol is down-regulation of COX-2. p27 is up-regulated simultaneously and plays an important part in controlling cell proliferation and is a crucial factor in the Fas/FasL apoptosis pathway.

Keywords: Peaonol; HT-29 cell line; Cyclooxygenase-2; p27